Whiffletree.



T. F. GREGORY.

- WHIPFLETREE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1911.

1,020,196. Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

Of Attorneys Witnesses tinrrnn STATES PATENT onricn.

THOMAS FRANK GREGORY, 0F HENNING, TENNESSEE.

WHIFFLETREE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. GREGORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Henning, in the county of Lauderdale and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful WV'hitlletree, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in whitlletrees, while it may be adapted for other utilities, as for instance, a neck or breast yoke and the like.

The invention has for its object to provide for bracing the device against a pulling strain or other stress.

A further object is to provide for securing the trace against possible casual detachment from the whi'll'letree, especially when the pulling action is relaxed and the whillletree assumes a dependable position.

A still further object is to carry out the aforesaid ends in a simple, inexpensive and effective manner.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and features substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and defined by the claim.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention wherein it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made as relate to the detailed construction and ar rangement of the parts without departing from the spirit thereof, Figure 1 is a perspective of the invention, one of the tracehooks or fastenings, however, being omitted. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same complete. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line w00 of Fig. 1. Fig. l is a section taken on the line g y of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detached perspective of a bracket-like brace between the trace-hook ended member and the slidable bar or brace.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a combined trace-hook-ended and whillletree attaching member 1, which is preferably formed from suitably conformed rod-metal, said rod-metal member being provided with or twisted into a central attaching loop or eye 2. The end portions of said rod-metal member are extended or directed at right- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 29, 1911.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

Serial No. 663,108.

angles or laterally to the general trend of the body-portion thereof, as at 3, said rightangled or lateral portions or extensions 3 terminating in trace-attaching loops or fastenings 4-, themselves formed with recurved terminals 5 for aiding the retaining action thereof, as will be readily appreciated. A stretcher or brace (5, preferably of wood although it may be of metal, spans the interval between, and is suitably applied to the right-angled or lateral extensions or portions 3 of the member 1, connection therebetween being cilected preferably by means of metal-loop or eye forming members or keepers 7 suitably fixed or secured to said stretcher or brace (5 at its ends and receiving said lateral or right-angled portions or extensions of said member 1. The keepers or eye-members 7 afford such connection between the brace or stretcher G and member 1 as to preclude any yielding-or binding action therebetween, and said keepers or eyemembers are adapted to so receive the lateral portions 3 of the member 1 as to allow of a sliding action or movement of said member (3 thereon, whereby, it is apparent that as the pulling action or strain upon the traces and accordingly upon the whillletree is relaxcd, the latter will drop into a dependable position, which will allow the member or stretcher 1, thus rendered slidable, to engage by gravity the backs or bends of the recurved portions 5 of the trace-hooks or loops l, and thus prevent the casual detachment of the traces therefrom, which would otherwise occur by reason of the resultant slack in the traces, as will be readily appreciated.

A bracketdike member 8 is suitably secured to the member 6, about centrally of its rear edge and is adapted to brace the member 1 intermediate of its ends, as shown.

It is apparent that by exchanging for the trace-forming hooks 4 rings and employing rings in connection with the eye 2, the device may be used for certain other utilities, as a neck or breast yoke or analogous con trivance.

IV hat is claimed is A whilllctree, including a stretching bar, an attaching member having lateral extensions terminating in trace-engaging hooks, themselves having recnrved terminals, and as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signameans providing for slidable connection beture in the presence of tWo Witnesses. tween said stretching bar and said lateral THOMAS FRANK GREGORY. extensions, for the engagement of said Witnesses:

stretching bar with the bends or backs of J. R. GREGORY,

said trace-forming hooks. W. A. HALLIBURTON.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

